Categories: India

India takes another step towards making defence industry self-reliant

<p>
<strong>Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch several new initiatives of the Ministry of Defence, including the foundation stone laying of the first project of the Jhansi node of the UP Defence Industrial Corridor, in a ceremony scheduled to be held in the precincts of Jhansi Fort on Friday.  <br />
</strong><br />
The ceremony, being organised on the birth anniversary of Rani of Jhansi Laxmi Bai on November 19, will also witness the culmination of the three-day 'Rashtra Raksha Samarpan Parv' which was inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday.<br />
<br />
"Our country is facing many types of conventional and non-conventional challenges – from border threats to sub-conventional threats like terror and extremism. There is a need to create a strong, modern and well-equipped military, along with an equally capable, vibrant and self-reliant defence industry, which can provide low-cost yet top-quality equipment to our forces in a time-bound manner," Singh said at the inauguration of the festival.<br />
<br />
He also listed a number of initiatives undertaken by the Modi government under the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' initiative to strengthen the defence sector and ensure strategic independence.<br />
<br />
This includes the structural and organisational reforms in the defence sector, including corporatisation of Ordnance Factory Board; setting up of defence corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu; increase in Foreign Direct Investment and draft Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy 2020.<br />
<br />
Singh expressed confidence that these steps will not only increase the country's strength but also provide a roadmap to the Indian defence manufacturing for the future. Mentioning the Rs 50,000 crore order from the armed forces to Hindustan Aeronautical Limited (HAL), he highlighted that the government's efforts have already started to bear fruit.<br />
<br />
Shedding light on other visible results, the Defence Minister said that the defence exports have crossed Rs 38,000 crore mark in the last seven years.<br />
<br />
Joining of more than 10,000 SMEs in the defence sector and increase in research and development, start-up, innovation and employment in the defence sector are a result of the policies rolled out by the government, he reflected.</p>
<p>
<strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/opinion-news/handover-of-workhorse-light-combat-helicopter-will-add-to-india-s-mountain-warfare-heft-129251.html">Handover of workhorse Light Combat Helicopter will add to India’s mountain warfare heft</a></strong></p>
<p>
<strong><br />
</strong></p>

IN Bureau

Recent Posts

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says NATO buildup won’t have ‘any significant effect’ on Russia

NATO's recent decision to ramp up military spending will not significantly impact Russia's security, Foreign…

3 hours ago

India imposes 27-63% anti-dumping duties on plastic processing machines from China, Taiwan

India has imposed anti-dumping duties on imports of Plastic Processing Machines from China and Taiwan,…

6 hours ago

CTA report exposes systematic torture and deaths of Tibetan political prisoners under Chinese rule

The Human Rights Desk of the Department of Information and International Relations for the Central…

6 hours ago

‘Will have comparative advantage even under older tariffs’, say India’s trade deal negotiators in US

India's trade delegation is currently in the United States for high-stakes negotiations aimed at finalising…

8 hours ago

Rajnath Singh discusses supply of S-400 systems, Su-30 MKI upgrades with Russian counterpart Belousov

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a meeting with his Russian counterpart Andrey Belousov on the…

9 hours ago

S Jaishankar hails Operation Sindoor global outreach program, says matter of great pride when country’s interest is put first

Hailing the all-party delegation which travelled to 33 different countries as part of India's global…

9 hours ago